Telford trio 'gained £1.3 million' dealing drugs, court told

Sharon Campbell, her boyfriend Garfield Patterson and his associate Courtney Hamilton are all said to have had a criminal lifestyle.

An estimated £250,000 in profits from the drugs operation in Brookside, Telford, is known to have been transferred to various bank accounts in Jamaica by the trio.

A hearing to determine the defendants' criminal benefit under the Proceeds of Crime Act began at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday.

Both Campbell, 43, and Patterson, 48, had been involved in the supply of drugs from her home in Burford, Brookside, between 2005 and 2013.

Campbell, who was convicted of supplying cocaine and heroin and money laundering after a trial earlier this year, was jailed for 10 years. Patterson admitted the offences and was jailed for a total of nine years.

Mr Michael Duck QC, prosecuting, told the court extensive financial inquiries had been made by West Mercia Police's economic crime unit to determine the benefit from the long-running criminal activity.

Both Campbell and Patterson are challenging the details of the confiscation application and are maintaining that any money transferred to bank accounts in Jamaica was from legitimate sources.

Campbell, who worked as a carer for the elderly, has also claimed she worked as an escort and had been earning up to £3,000 a month. Patterson said he had earned money buying and selling second-hand cars.

Earlier, it was confirmed that the benefit to 40-year-old Hamilton, formerly of Trysull Road, Wolverhampton, was determined to be £1,270,000, but his only available assets amounted to less than £4,000.

Hamilton, who is also serving a nine-year prison sentence, will have to serve a further three months if the money is not paid within a three-month period.

The hearing continues.